Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen

Alexia Sinclair uploaded this image to flickr, click the image and follow the link to the original page

Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen (1533-1603) – Part of the Regal Twelve series.

The daughter of King Henry VIII, Elizabeth was born into royalty at Greenwich Palace near London. Henry, hoping for a male heir, declared Elizabeth illegitimate, accused her mother of adultery and had her beheaded. Succeeding her sister to the throne, Elizabeth ruled with the knowledge that effective rule depended upon popular support. Advisors urged the queen to marry to strengthen ties with allies and to produce heirs to the throne, yet Elizabeth chose instead to marry England. Strategically aligning herself with the catholic figure the Virgin Mary, Elizabeth secured a shift of power through her embodiment of symbolic virginity. Purified, she was transformed from an illegitimate protestant woman to ‘the virgin queen’. Her purification began with a physical transformation by cutting off her hair, whitening her skin and adorning herself in pearls; symbols of purity and wealth.

Photographer: Alexia Sinclair.

Hair: Illustrated

MUA: Leeby Sotherine & Sahra Bull

Lighting: Softbox left (key) softbox right (fill) 1 stop difference between the two.